Transportation wheel for a treadmill

ABSTRACT

A transportation wheel for a treadmill consists a roller and an engraved pattern defined in an outer surface the roller. The roller has an enlarged middle portion and two tapered ends on which a traveling belt is positioned. The engraved patterns are similar to fabric texture and defined on the outer surface of the roller, especially the enlarged middle portion. The engraved patterns provide an excellent guiding efficiency to keep the traveling belt from detaching from the roller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a transportation wheel for atreadmill, and more particularly to a transportation wheel having anengraved pattern on a roller where the pattern is similar to a patternon the inner surface of the traveling belt. Because of the similarpatterns, the transportation wheel is able to drive the traveling beltefficiently.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] With reference to FIG. 4, a treadmill (40) has a front end and arear end and comprises a transportation wheel (41), a freely-rotatingwheel (not numbered) and a traveling belt (42). The transportation wheel(41) mounted at the front end of the treadmill (40). The freely-rotatingwheel is mounted at the rear end of the treadmill (40) The travelingbelt (42) is mounted around the transportation wheel (41) and thefreely-rotating wheel.

[0005] The transportation wheel (41) is adapted to drive the travelingbelt (42) at the same speed as the transportation wheel (41). Thetransportation wheel (41) comprises a roller (43), which adapts toattach a drive assembly (44) on one end of the roller (43). The roller(43) has two slightly tapered ends, an enlarged middle portion and twoengraved helix patterns (45) defined on the middle portion of the outerperiphery of the roller (43), wherein the engraved helix patterns aregrooves and are formed in opposite directions to be a symmetricalconfiguration. When a user steps on the treadmill, most of the force isapplied to the enlarged middle portion of the roller (43), which makesthe traveling belt (42) press the middle portion tighter than thetapered ends of the roller (43). Thus, no side-force is applied to thetraveling belt (42), and the traveling belt (42) is not easily detachedfrom the roller (43). Additionally, the engraved helix patterns (45)evenly disperse the forces generated by and applied to the movingtraveling belt (42) and keep the traveling belt (42) in the middleportion of the roller (43) even when the roller (43) is rotating.

[0006] However, the traveling belt (42) has an inner surface that ismade of fabric and has a texture different from the engraved helixpatterns (45) on the roller (43). Therefore, the roller (43) cannotprovide sufficient friction to drive the traveling belt (42).

[0007] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate thedisadvantages of the conventional transportation wheel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The main objective of the transportation wheel for a treadmill inaccordance with the present invention is to keep the traveling belt onthe roller of the transportation wheel.

[0009] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a transportation wheelfor a treadmill in accordance with the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a front plan view in partial section of thetransportation wheel for a treadmill in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a front plan view in partial section of a transportationwheel for a treadmill in accordance with the present invention withanother engraved pattern; and

[0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a treadmill having a conventionaltransportation wheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a transportation wheel for atreadmill in accordance with the present invention is adapted to drive atraveling belt of the treadmill. The transportation wheel comprises aroller (10) having two ends and an outer surface, and an engravedpattern (15) defined in the outer surface of the roller (10). The roller(10) adapts to be driven by a drive assembly (20) securing at one end ofthe roller (10).

[0015] The drive assembly (20) comprises two drive wheels (21), twobearing (22) and an axle (23). Each drive wheel (21) is mounted at eachend of the roller (10), and a through hole (not numbered) is axiallyformed in each drive wheel (21). Each bearing (22) is mounted in thethrough hole in the respective drive wheel (21). The axle (23) passesthrough the roller (10) and is secured in the drive wheels (21) by thebearings (22).

[0016] The roller (10) is driven by the drive assembly (20) andcomprises two tapered ends (11) and an enlarged middle portion (13). Anengraved pattern (15) similar to texture of a fabric is formed aroundthe entire outer periphery of the roller (10). The engraved pattern (15)meshes with an inner face of the traveling belt. Additionally, theengraved pattern (15) within the enlarged portion (13) is an interlacingpattern and wider and deeper than other engraved pattern (15) within thetapered ends (11) so as to enhance the friction between the roller (10)and the traveling belt.

[0017] With reference to FIG. 3, the engraved pattern is selectivelyaxial engraved lines, wherein the lines within the enlarged middleportion are reinforced to enhance the driving friction force between theroller (10) and the traveling belt.

[0018] The roller (10) perfectly matches the fabric inside the travelingbelt. Thus the roller (10) has excellent driving efficiency to thetraveling belt.

[0019] Although the invention has been explained in relation to itspreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A transportation wheel adapted to apply on atreadmill to drive a traveling belt having an inner fabric, thetransportation wheel comprising: a roller (10) having two ends and anouter surface and adapted to secure a drive assembly (20) at one end;and an engraved pattern (15) defined in the outer surface of the roller(10); wherein the improvements of the transportation wheel comprises:the roller (10) composed of two tapered ends (11) and an enlarged middleportion (13) having the engraved pattern (15), wherein the engravedpattern (15) is defined in the outer surface of the roller (10) andadapted to mesh with a texture of the inner fabric on the travelingbelt.
 2. The transportation wheel for a treadmill as claimed in claim 1,wherein the engraved pattern (15) within the enlarged portion (13) iswider and deeper than other engraved pattern within the tapered ends toenhance the friction between the roller (10) and the traveling belt. 3.The transportation wheel for a treadmill as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe engraved pattern is an interlacing pattern.
 4. The transportationwheel for a treadmill as claimed in claim 2, wherein the engravedpattern is configured as axial lines on the roller.